Firearm



Feb. l5, 1944. M M JOHNSQN, JR l 2,341,869

FIREARM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Jan. 51, 1939 Feb. l5, 1944. M. M. JOHNSON, JR

FIREARM Filed Jan. 51, 193'9 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 m .di

dummy /MM Patented Feb. 15, 1944 FIREARM Melvin M. Johnson, Jr., Brookline, Mass., assigner to Melvin M. Johnson, Melvin M. Johnson, Jr., and Edward E. Rice, as trustees of Johnson Patent Trust, Boston, Mass.

Application January 31, 1939, Serial No. 253,722

6 Claims.

This invention relates to mechanism for feeding cartridges to a firearm and to associated mechanisml for controlling the breech action in response to the feeding mechanism. More particularly the invention relates to a cartridge magazine and means for automatically retaining the breech bolt in retracted position after the last cartridge has been fired.

Objects of the invention are to provide a cartridge magazine which is simple and compact in construction, which may be assembled and disassembled with facility and without special tools, which may be loaded or unloaded quickly and easily without detaching the magazine from its associated firearm, which can be loaded or unloaded with the bolt in either open or closed position, which can be loaded with loose cartridges or from standard cartridge clips, which can be reloaded if only partly empty, which has a large capacity without projecting much beyond the outline ofthe firearm, which is adapted to retain the breech closure in retracted position after thelast cartridge is fired, which is reliable and durable in use and which is generally superior to prior magazines of the type herein referred to.

Other objects of the invention will be evident from the following description and the illustrated embodiment shown in the accompanyin drawings in which Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a firearm of the army rifle type; y y

Fig. 2 is a vertical longitudinal section of the central portion of the firearm with the bolt and trigger bar both retracted;

Fig. 3 is a section on line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4 5 of Fig. 2 illustrating the manner of loading the magazine from a cartridge clip;

Fig. 5 is a section on the saine line 4 5 of Fig. 2 showing the magazine fully loaded and ready to feed the foremost cartridge to the firing chamber;

Fig. 6 is a section on line 6--6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 7 is a Sectional View of Va pivoted closure for the opening in the magazine through which the magazine is loaded; and* Fig. 8 is a plan view of the parts which automatically retain the bolt in retracted position after the last cartridge is fired.

The particular embodiment of the invention chosen for the purpose of illustration comprises a firearm of the army type similar to that disclosed in my Patent No. 2,094,156 granted September 28, 1937, and my pending applications Serial No. 183,469 filed January 5, 1938, and Serial No. 195,781 filed March 14, 1938. For the purpose of the present disclosure the following brief description of the firearm will .suica The bolt I reciprocates back and forth in the receiver 2, the bolt having a handle 3 projecting through the opening 4 in the receiver for manually retracting the bolt. At the forward end of its reciprocatory movement the bolt also has a rotary movement to interlock the bolt with the reciprocating barrel 5 as fully disclosed in the aforesaid patents. Pivotally mounted at 6 is a bell-crank lever comprising a forwardpart 1 projecting into the magazine space and a rearward part 8 extending into juxtaposition to the bolt recess 9 which is adapted to receive the rear end of the lever when the bolt is in retracted position. A spring Ill normally holds the; lever inthe position shown in Fig. 2, the lever being swung in a clockwise direction (Fig. 2) into engagement with the bolt by a clockwiseforce exerted on the forward end 1 of the lever as hereinafter described. The lever part 8 is provided with a slot II to accommodate the hammer I2 which is controlled by the' trigger bar I3, the hammer being pivoted at I4 and being urged in a clockwise direction by means of a springpressed strut I5 pivotally connected with the hammer at I6. Fig. 2 shows the parts in the position they occupy afterthe trigger bar has been retracted to re the gun and after thebolt has recoiled. When the trigger is released the trigger bar I3 moves forwardly to transfer the hammer from the forward to the rearvvardde-` tent of the trigger bar; and when the trigger bar is again retracted the hammer is released from the rearward detent to fire another cartridge. As shown in Figs. 3 to 6 the receiver 2 is provided with an ejection slot Il.

Mounted beneath the receiver is a magazine comprising front and rear Walls 2l and 22 to which are welded an outer cylindrical wall 23 and two inner .cylindrical walls 24 and 25 which are in axial alignment and which have suicient space therebetween to accommodate the follower hereinafter described. Extending axially through the end walls 2I and 22 is a pivot pin 26 having its forward end bent downwardly in a recess in the stock 49 and having its rearward end projecting into an opening in a portion 'I9 of the receiver. Loosely fitting around the pin 26 is a tube 21 and fast to the tube are two disks 28 and a sleeve 29. Fast to the outer periphery of the disks 28 is a cylinder 30 surrounded by a torsion spring 3l, one end of the spring being anchored to the rearward end of the cylinder and the other end 32 of the spring projecting forwardly as indicated at 32 in Figs. 2, 4 and 5. Projecting rearwardly from the forward end 2| are four ears 35 and tting between these ears is a square plate 34 having a central circular opening to receive the sleeve 2T. The end 32 of the torsion spring projects into an opening in the plate 34. By sliding the plate to the rear along the sleeve 27 until it clears the ears 35 the plate may be rotated around the sleeve to wind the torsion spring. After the spring is wound to the desired extent plate 34 is returned to its forward position between the ears 35 where it is held against rotation by the ears. Projecting radially from the sleeve 29 is an oblique cam 36 for actuating the lever 'ias illustrated in Fig. 8. The sleeve 29 also carries a radial arm 31 on the outer end of which is mounted a cross-arm 38 for engagement with the rearmost cartridge. The arm 3l or the cross-arm 38 or both are preferably formed of spring material so that the cross-arm may accommodate itself to the inclination of the rearmost cartridge.

As shown in Figs. 3 to 6 the receiver is provided with aligned pintle lugs 4| to receive a pintle 42, the outer cylindrical wall 23 of the magazine having marginal portions 43 rolled around the pintle between the lugs 4|. Fast to the forward wall 2| is a lug 44 projecting into a slot 45 t in the receiver, the lug being held in the slot by means of a pin 46 extending transversely through the receiver. Thus the magazine is secured on the firearm by the pin 42, the pin 46 and the aforesaid pin 26 which projects into the depending portion 'I9 of the receiver. To remove the magazine from the firearm the stock 49 is rst removed and then the pins 26, 42 and 46 are removed. Instead of completely removing the pin 26 it may be moved forwardly only far enough to clear the receiver. By removing pin 46 and retracting pin 26 the magazine may be swung downwardly to the left about the pintle 42, thereby affording access to its interior Without removing it from the firearm.

As shown in Fig. 4 the annular space between the inner and outer cylindrical walls of the magazine is lled with cartridges by pushing them into the upper end of the space from the righthand side, the receiver being provided with guides and 52 to receive a clip 53. The extent to which the clip 53 may be inserted into the guides 5| and 52 is limited by a shoulder 54 in the path of the forward end of the clip. As the cartridges are inserted into the magazine the follower 31 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction against the action of the spring 3| from the position shown in Fig. 3 to the position shown in Fig. 5.

To close the opening through which the cartridges are inserted into the magazine a closure 66 is pivotally mounted, by means of pins 6| and 62 on the right-hand edge of the outer cylindrical wall 23, the central portion of this edge being rolled into the form of a semi-cylinder 63 and the edge of the closure 66 being also rolled into two tubular portions 64 which extend from the semi-cylindrical portion 63 to the opposite ends of the magazine respectively. Bushings 65, 66 and 61 are secured by pressed-lits in the tubular portions 64 and the pins 6| and 62 slide back and forth in these bushings. The pins are provided with shoulders 68 and 69 for engagement by springs 'il and l2 for urging the pins outwardly with their ends projecting into openings in the end walls 2| and 22 of the magazine. The spring 7| has a looped portion tted under a head 82 fast to the inside of the closure 60 and the free ends 13 of the spring extend downwardly along the inside of the outer cylindrical wall (Figs. 5 and '7) to urge the closure into the closed position shown in Figs. 3 and 5. The closure 60 has an extension 15 bent into the shape shown in Figs. 3, 4 and 5 to guide the cartridges to the delivery position shown at 76 in Figs. 5 and 6 where the foremost cartridge is picked up by the bolt and pushed into the firing chamber. The rear end of the closure is cut away as indicated at TI to clear the clip guide 52. As shown in Figs. 3 to 5 the rolled portion 63 of the magazine extends through only leaving a space for the passage of the bushing 66. Thus the closure 60 may be removed by pressing the pins 6| and 62 inwardly out of engagement with the end walls of the magazine and then pressing the closure downwardly until the bushing 66 is disengaged from the rolled portion 63 of the outer wall of the magazine.

From the foregoing it will be evident that my improved magazine has a substantial capacity without projecting from the firearm very far in any direction; indeed the illustrative embodiment accommodates ten army-rifle cartridges without projecting beyond the outline of the stock 46, the magazine constituting a streamline continuation of the stock. The only tool required to disconnect and disassemble the magazine is a small rod or wire with which to press out the pins 26, 42 and 46. To reload the magazine it is necessary merely to press the cover 66 inwardly and downwardly and then insert the cartridges either individually by hand or from a clip as illustrated in Fig. 4. When employing a clip the insertion of the clip into the guides 5| and 52 automatically opens the closure 69 to the position shown in Fig. 4. The magazine may be loaded at any time, with the bolt in either open or closed position and with the magazine either partly or entirely empty. To unload the magazine it is necessary merely to open the closure 6!) whereupon the follower 31-38 automatically ejects the cartridges remaining in the magazine in response to the torsion spring 3|.

It should be understood that this disclosure is for the purpose of illustration only and that this invention includes all modifications and equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A cartridge magazine comprising inner and outer curved walls defining therebetween an annular passageway having at the outer end thereof an inlet to receive cartridges tangentially, said inner wall defining an inner space, a spring; pressed yfollower for advancing cartridges toward said inlet successively, a closure for said inlet having a surface to guidel the foremost cartridge, and means for pivotally mounting said closure on said outer wall to open by swinginginto said inner space.

2. A firearm comprising a receiver having two sides and a bolt chamber and a cartridge opening communicating with the chamber intermediate the two sides, a reciprocating bolt in the chamber, a cartridge magazine having an annular passageway leading tangentially to the bolt chamber from one of said sides to said cartridge opening, said opening being located between the bolt chamber and the central space about which the annular passageway extends, a spring-pressed follower for advancing the cartridges along said;

passageway to said opening, the receiver having a loading opening in the other of said sides in alignment with said passageway through which cartridges may be loaded into the magazine along a path passing the bolt chamber tangentially, without first retracting the spring-pressed follower and without passing cartridges through the bolt chamber, means for closing said loading opening and means for movably supporting said closing means to move toward said central space to admit cartridges into the magazine.

3. A firearm comprising a receiver having two sides and a bolt chamber and a cartridge opening communicating with the chamber intermediate the two sides, a reciprocating bolt in the chamber, a cartridge magazine having an annular passageway leading tangentially to the bolt chamber from one of said sides to said cartridge opening, said opening being located between the bolt chamber and the central space about which the annular passageway extends, a spring-pressed follower for advancing the cartridges along said passageway to said opening, the receiver having a loading opening in the other of said sides in alignment with said passageway through which cartridges may be loaded into the magazine along a path passing the bolt chamber tangentially, without first retracting the spring-pressed follower and without passing cartridges through the bolt chamber, means for closing said loading opening, said means having a surface for positioning the foremost cartridge at said cartridge opening, and means for movably supporting said closing means for movement toward said central space to admit cartridges into the magazine.

4. A rearm comprising a receiver having two sides and a bolt chamber and a cartridge opening communicating with the chamber intermediate the two sides, a reciprocating bolt in the chamber, a cartridge magazine having an annular passageway leading tangentially to the bolt chamber from one of said sides to said cartridge opening, said opening being located between the bolt chamber and the central space about which the annular passageway extends, a spring-pressed follower for advancing the cartridges along said passageway to said opening, the receiver having a loading opening in the other of said sides in alignment with said passageway through which cartridges may be loaded into the magazine along a path passing the bolt chamber tangentially, without first retracting the spring-pressed follower and without passing cartridges through the bolt chamber, a spring-actuated door for closing said loading opening, and means for hinging the door to swing into said central space in response to the pressure of the cartridges being loaded into the magazine.

5. A firearm comprising a receiver having two sides and a bolt chamber and a cartridge opening communicating with the chamber intermediate the two sides, a reciprocating bolt in the chamber, a cartridge magazine having an annular passageway leading tangentially to 'the bolt chamber from one of said sides to said cartridge opening, said opening being located between the bolt chamber and the central space about which the annularl passageway extends, a spring-pressed follower for advancing the cartridges along said passageway to said opening, the receiver having a loading opening in the other of said sides in alignment with said passageway through which cartridges may be loaded into the magazine along a path passing the bolt chamber tangentially, without rst retracting the spring-pressed follower and without passing cartridges through the bolt chamber, a spring-actuated door for closing said loading opening, and means for hinging the door to swing into said central space in response to the pressure of the cartridges being loaded into the magazine, said door having an interior surface for positioning the foremost cartridge at said cartridge opening.

6. A firearm comprising a received having two sides and a bolt chamber and a cartridge opening communicating with the chamber intermedidiate the two sides, a reciprocating bolt in the chamber, a cartridge magazine having an annular passageway leading tangentially to the bolt chamber from one of said sides to said cartridge opening, said opening being located between the bolt chamber and the central space about which the annular passageway extends, a spring-pressed follower for advancing the cartridge along said passageway to said opening, the receiver having a loading opening in the other side thereof in alignment with said passageway through which cartridges may be loaded into the magazine along a path passing the bolt chamber tangentially without first retracting the spring-pressed follower and without passing cartridges through the bolt chamber, a guide at said loading opening to receive acari-,ridge clipin alignmentwith said passageway so that cartridges maybe loaded into the magazine along a path passing the bolt chamber tangentially, without rst retracting the spring-pressed follower and without passing cartridges through the bolt chamber, a door for closing said loading opening, and means for movably supporting the door so that it moves toward said central space in response to pressure on its outer surface.

MELVIN M. JOHNSON, JR. 

